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Mr Truss has now referred the group's delivery plan to Infrastructure Australia for further consideration on how best it could be funded and implemented.

But there's competition with a private sector proposal for an inland freight link, regarded as more ambitious, but also more costly.

Former Nationals leader John Anderson, who led the implementation group, commissioned the first study to identify the best route when he was deputy prime minister under John Howard.

Mr Anderson said the business case didn't exist then, but it did now, thanks to extensive rail system reforms over the past decade.

"I can look the government and the taxpayer in the eye and say ... this is a project that stacks up," he told reporters.

Mr Anderson warned it was the last throw of the dice for rail and the government needed to clearly say "yes" or "no" soon.

"If we don't do it now, road will win out forever," he said.

The Greens have welcomed the government's enthusiasm for the project, but questioned why the process was taking so long.

"The government must stop dilly-dallying," transport and infrastructure spokeswoman Janet Rice said.

Farmers have also urged the government to get on with it.

"At a time when the national economy is plagued by fragility, inland rail is just what we need to invigorate confidence, particularly in agriculture," National Farmers Federation President Brent Finlay said.

The Australian Logistics Council said inland rail was critical to Australia's freight future.